What schools can’t do, this tuition does; planting a seed of hope

N K Thirumalachariar School on Thulasingha Perumal Koil Street wears a festive look each year in July. It’s an old building, having survived over hundred years. It has many round pillars holding the roof and the red marble floors.

I was witness to a special occasion, as the tuition centre in the location, reopened in the first week of July this year. These tuition classes are run daily from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, six days a week, and nine months a year. It is made possible by teachers from reputed schools in the neighbourhood, volunteering to serve after their grueling 9:00 to 4:00 schedule and willing to help students in corporation schools to benefit from their skills.

I sense a keen anticipation as the students and parents gather for the reopening. The girls and boys sit on the floor while the parents were seated on a wooden bench. Two priests make a last minute flower decoration by hanging a jasmine string to the photo-frames of Venkatachalapathy and Pullayar. But the centre-piece is an idol of Saraswati with her veena in a standing posture. The entire room wears a fragrance of incense, flowers and sandal paste.

After the puja the priest chanted, “I wish and bless the entire gathering for the best in their exams. May you get good marks and be prosperous in life”.

This gathering was organized by Srinivas Youngmen’s Association (SYMA) in Thiruvallikeni. It is a community initiative perhaps with no parallel in the city. They have been involved in social services since 1977. Today they run a clinic for the poor. The consultation fee is Rs.2 where a qualified doctor sees them. Free medicines are provided. Besides they also run a test lab at nominal rates. SYMA also maintains the water tank in front of the Parathasarathy temple. They also provide urinals for pilgrims.

For the last seven years SYMA has been running this tuition centre at the N K Thirumalachariar School for standard ten and twelve students. There are many slums surrounding Triplicane, staying where, many children have little access to quality education. Besides there is need for individual attention for which the schools are ill-equipped.

SYMA selects 120 students based on the family’s income. The aim of these tuition classes is to propel those who now average on 40% marks to an 80% or 90%. Even the fee is structured in a way as to benefit the students.

Vijayaraghavan, the Administrator explains,” We take a caution deposit of Rs.1000 from each student. If they manage 75% attendance we return the money. Anything given free, at the first instance, will not be valued.”

Mr. T A Sampath Kumar, the President spoke to the new batch of students,” I want each one of you to inspire and train ten other people. Be it your classmate or someone from a younger class.” The entire room was filled with expectant faces and hope. It was hard to miss the sparkle in the eyes of the children.

I sat in the room for over an hour and it spelt hope. The room vibrated with optimism and “I can” spirit. The marks of toppers would be displayed as to motivate others. There are enough success stories of  students from SYMA who went on to study futher and also landed good jobs.

The motto here is: Serve in such a way that there is no giver or taker, we are in it together.

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